Drug boss bodyguard's trial starts in El Paso

EL PASO - A drug smuggling and murder trial for a man federal prosecutors say was a bodyguard to a now-dead Mexican drug cartel leader is scheduled to open Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Rigoberto Ruiz Alatorre was a bodyguard for Gabino Salas Valenciano. Salas was believed to have run the Sinaloa drug cartel's operations across the border from El Paso County until Mexican authorities killed him last year.

The murder charge stems from a 2006 shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 36-year-old Ruiz has denied the charges and told the El Paso Times that he didn't know Salas was involved in drugs.

Court documents show jury selection is scheduled for Wednesday. The trial was delayed Monday due to evidentiary issues.